I’m not suggesting that all these businesses need to actually transact business online. I’m only saying that everyone listed in yesterday’s Yellow Pages needs to also be available on the internet today–it’s where your customers expect to find you.

If you’re thinking you might not be able to afford putting up a website, think again.There are some websites like wowzzy.com which provides tools like "ezSmart site" [can be used as business website]to promote business easily on web

Right you are. I've been explaining about "web real estate" for some time. If you don't own a domain and don't want the hassle of what that entails: registration, hosting, development/design, programming, navigation, copy writing and that list goes on to include graphics, accepting credit cards, security issues and much more.

THEN when your whiz-bang web site goes live you find one important piece missing that the developer/designer did not include in your all encompassing package: SEO

NOW, you have to pay someone else (or the same person) to search engine optimize your site and you are in debt all over again.

There are plenty of developers who include SEO in every package they offer. But you have to look hard to find them.

There are some alternatives to this scenario and you can find places whereby you can park your information for an annual fee and have someone else handle ALL those details for you, including the SEO issues. But then, again, you must seek out and find those folks.

It pays these days to social/business network in several venues to find the people who know what you need and are willing to provide it with no exceptions.